The defence ministry said 180 soldiers were being dispatched to the normally quiet city of Salisbury in southwestern England, initially to remove "a number of vehicles and objects from the scene".

Former double agent Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a bench in the city on Sunday and are in a critical but stable condition at a local hospital. But the police are saying very little publicly - not until they can be certain who did this and how.

The spokesman said Johnson's comments were an attempt to politicize the affair, and attacked the media for aiding the United Kingdom government's efforts.

Former RussianspySergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, remain hospitalized in "very serious condition" after being poisoned this week in Salisbury, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said as she visited the city Friday.

About 180 troops have been brought in to help remove vehicles and potentially-contaminated objects around the crime scene due to their specialist knowledge, said police.

Police have also cordoned off Skripal's modest home in Salisbury, about 130km from London, and erected forensic tents in the garden.

"This was attempted murder in the most cruel and public way", Ms Rudd told parliament in a statement.

The military have been drafted in as part of the investigation (Picture: Getty) Police have said that military assistance will continue as long as is necessary.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow might be willing to help with the investigation, but he expressed resentment at suggestions that the Kremlin was behind the attack.

It is now not known why the tents have been set up, but a spokesperson for the Met Police told Metro.co.uk that there is no exhumation taking place.

Known as the spy with the Louis Vuitton bag, Mr Skripal was a KGB veteran who was convicted in Russian Federation for spying for the British intelligence agency MI6 in 2006.

They called on anyone who visited the area on Sunday, including a branch of the Zizzi restaurant chain or the nearby Bishop's Mill pub, to come forward with any information that might help them piece together what happened.

Britain vowed Thursday to act "without hesitation" if a state is found responsible for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian double agent, as police said 21 people in total had received medical treatment following the incident.

"He also wishes to say that he was part of a group of officers and other emergency service colleagues who dealt with the initial incident".

Moscow has reacted angrily to the accusations it was involved, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday dismissing them as baseless "propaganda".

Prime Minister Theresa May has promised an "appropriate" response if it is discovered that Russian Federation is responsible for poisoning Skripal, but has urged caution.

Russian Federation is fighting a new Cold War against Britain which people need to be aware of, an MP has warned. He described the comments as an attempt to politicize the affair, and attacked the media for aiding the government's efforts.

In response to questions over Russia's possible involvement, May has said that "if action needs to be taken then the government will do that".

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A British public inquiry said Litvinenko's murder had probably been approved by Putin and carried out by two Russians, Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoy.